"Gaming disorder" is about to be introduced in the international list of illnesses next year by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Gaming disorder" is about to be introduced in the international list of illnesses next year by the World Health Organization (WHO). Being addicted to games is in fact a mental illness and parents should keep an eye on their video game-enthusiastic kids.

WHO has decided to add gaming disorder to the international list of illnesses after monitoring computer gaming for over a decade!

As per a report by the Daily Mail, "The draft wording of its diagnostic manual says someone has a gaming disorder if gaming takes precedence over other life interests. The unhealthy behaviour will have had to continue for at least a year before the diagnosis is confirmed."

WHO also added that gaming disorder is more wide-ranging than just video-gaming disorder.

WHO also said gaming disorder is wider than just video-gaming disorder.

Gaming disorder may have serious health consequences

Vladimir Poznyak, at the WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, said: "Health professionals need to recognise that gaming disorder may have serious health consequences."

Poznyak added: "Most people who play video games don't have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either. However, in certain circumstances overuse can lead to adverse effects."

Also, the draft wording of the gaming disorder entry states that the sufferers will continue to play games even when it leads to "negative consequences."

However, WHO has not listed other conditions linked to the technology, like smartphone or internet addiction because there is a lack of evidence on whether they are "real disorders."

Dr Andrew Przybylski, lead author from the University of Oxford study, said: "To our knowledge, these are the first findings from a large-scale project to produce robust evidence on the potential new problem of 'internet gaming disorder,'" he added.